| Annabelle Noel Designs – the Blossom Crown Company Profile In 2003, as US unemployment rates continued to rise, Anne Cork took charge of her destiny as she heard of her impending job loss in pharmaceutical sales. During this time, Cork turned to her two favorite hobbies for stress relief: flower gardening and jewelry design. The dream of starting a business that would somehow combine these two passions was something that was always a part of who Cork was. Her sensible side, however, never permitted for Cork to indulge in the notion that it could really happen. Immediately following the loss of her job, Cork had created the Blossom Crown. She showed it to her friends and family, and with their support, she found herself in the middle of making her own dream become a reality. With demand increasing rapidly, Cork soon realized that she needed a full-time staff that was willing to take on all of the risks that go hand-in-hand with a start- up company. Cork teamed with two other friends and colleagues, one being Amy Piazzon. Combined, their backgrounds in business, sales, and marketing added the ingredients necessary for a winning team to get things started. The business moved its headquarter operations in the spring of 2005. Piazzon stayed on as Director of Sales while Cork managed the manufacturing and business side of things. This move led to the hiring of Cork’s longtime friend and childhood neighbor, Lindsey Kennedy, upon her graduation from college. From the beginning, Annabelle Noel Designs has been a company owned and operated by women, striving to create both fun and functional products. The Blossom Crown itself is hand-woven overseas. Local college students and stay-at-home moms then complete the beading and packaging work in the United States. Cork herself is a mom of two, and values having a job - and running a company - that makes family a high priority. Annabelle Noel Designs has come a long way since first beginning with the Blossom Crown. After five years of being in business, the Blossom Crown is sold in over 600 stores throughout the United States and Canada, mail order catalogs, through television venues and the Internet. During that time, the Blossom Crown has sold over $3.5 million in retail sales. A job lay-off provided Cork with the final impetus needed to pursue her dream of starting a creative business. Cork, however, advises others not to wait: “if you follow your dreams, success is sure to follow”. |
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